LAHORE – MIAN DAWOOD  - The Lahore High Court on Wednesday ordered the Punjab government to regularise in two months City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) employees on a daily wage basis.
Justice Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Khan passed the order on a contempt petition moved by work-charge employees.
The petitioners submitted that LHC had directed district government to regularise work-charge employees but the government was not complying with LHC order.
An additional advocate general appeared on behalf of Punjab government and told it that at present 6,000 work-charge employees were working in Lahore and additional funds were required for their regularisation. He pointed out that finance department was lacking funds and the employees would be regularised on the availability of funds.
However, a summary had been forwarded to the secretary of the local government department over the issue, he added.
After recording the statement of government law officer, the disposed of the contempt petition and directed government to arrange funds in two months and regularize the employees.
INQUIRY ORDERED: The LHC ordered the Inspector General (IG) of Police to hold detailed inquiry about the dismissal of a constable, who denied working for a SP’s wife and children at his private house, by his ‘competent authority’ over the charges of just 48 hours absence.
Disposing off the petition moved by Azhar Mahmood against the merciless conduct of the Superintendent of Police (SP), Justice Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Khan observed that senior government official could not exceed their powers and exploit their subordinates.
A constable-drive Azhar Mahmood submitted in his petition that he was a resident of Gurjanwala district and had joined police department in 1990.
Some months ago, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sadar division of Gujranwala Junaid Arshad verbally appointed the petitioner at his home, situated at Eden Canal Villa Thoker Niaz Baig Lahore, for giving pick and drop facility to his lecturer wife and children.
He submitted that his family started suffering due to his posting outside the district because he would also have to perform domestic work.
When he raised the issue before SP Junaid Arshad and requested him to transfer him back to the mother district, he started shouting and threatened him for dire consequences, the petitioner said.
However, the SP nurtured the grudge against him and had on December 07 got registered an FIR against him under section 155 of police order over the allegations of absence of only 43 hours and 30 minutes. Next day, he was dismissed from the services, the petitioner added.
He mentioned in the petition that he moved many applications before high ups including the chief minister against the unruly SP but in vain.
He requested the court to set aside his dismissal orders and also quash the frivolous FIR registered against him. He also requested the court to direct Punjab IG of Police and Home Secretary to take stern action against the SP and SHO who registered the case on account of misusing the powers.
The court was informed on Wednesday that the dismissal of Azhar Mahmood had been withdrawn.
Taking strict notice of the matter, the court observed that allegations and issue of the petitioner were much serious and needed detailed probe. The court further observed that every government officials even belonging to lower grader was a servant of the state only and could not be used for personal work of seniors.
The court said that no government officer could misuse their powers.
Justice Khan ordered the IG police to hold an impartial inquiry of the matter within in one month and take strict action against the responsible.
NOTICE: The LHC took strict notice of initiating inquiry against a Gepco officer instead of registering an electricity theft case against a son-in-law of PML-N MPA Rana Shamim Ahmad Khan.
The court has summoned Director Punjab of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Waqar Haider for Thursday (today) for explanation.
Justice Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Khan was hearing a petition moved by Saeed Akthar, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), through Advocate Imran Raza Chadharr.
The petitioner submitted that during his posting at Sialkot district he received information that electricity was being theft at a hotel situated at Raipur, Wazirabad Road of the district.
He contended that a GEPCO team along with FIA Gujranwala officials had on November 16 raided at hotel, owned by Rana Akmal, and recovered tempered meters and wires used for electricity theft. During investigation it was found that the electricity was being theft for last three years, the petition pointed out adding that meanwhile the detection bill of Rs1, 661,323 was sent to the hotel owner. Since the day, the hotel owners had neither paid the detection bill nor had the FIA registered the case against him because he is son-in-law of the PML-N MPA whose son Rana Abdul Sattar also a member of national assembly (MNA), the petitioner pointed out adding that the instant file seeking permission for registering the case was running from one table to another of FIA officials.
Instead of registering the case, a frivolous inquiry had been initiated against the petitioner by FIA Punjab Director Waqar Haider on the behest of both parliamentarians, the SDO further contended. He alleged that both politicians were hurling life threats to him.
He requested the court to declare the holding of inquiry by FIA against him as illegal and unlawful. He also requested for orders to FIA for registration of the electricity case against the influential hotel owner besides recovering detection bill from him.
Justice Khan heard arguments and summoned Punjab FIA Director for Thursday (today) while taking strict notice of the matter.